A HIGH-POWERED delegation from various government institutions assembled at the Indonsa Art and Culture Centre in Ulundi to discuss problems and challenges faced by suppliers, service providers and contractors in the Zululand District.
Under the auspices of the KZN MEC for Finance, Belinda Scott, Provincial Treasury partnered with the Zululand District Municipality in an attempt to close the information gap which exists between the local and provincial spheres of government and the business community.
The seminar opened up the conversation on topics including Construction Industry Development Board regulations and requirements, SARS, the empowerment of emerging contractors and suppliers (EDTEA), registration on the provincial database and the municipal bid appeals tribunal.
Speaking on behalf of the local business fraternity, Emakhosini Chamber Secretary, Sbonakaliso Makhaye, said, ‘We appreciate the informative opportunity presented to us by our government, especially as we are a rural-based organisation and business people.
‘This seminar played an important role in capacitating us and paving a clear route to our members on what action they need to take.
‘It has always been our concern that we see and hear about policies in newspapers and radio, with no follow up or monitoring on the ground, but today we are grateful to see our government coming to us to put these policies into perspective.
‘We would appreciate it if the government can also look very closely at this issue of BBBEE verification as it poses a lot of challenges for rural business people’.
This fruitful engagement between government and business will continue in other districts as the provincial Treasury plans to drive engagements with suppliers in all districts in the province.
